Before Mendoza: Looking back at six recent previous No. 1 overall picks sidelined to begin career

2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza's time will have to wait.

The Las Vegas Raiders made the expected official on Wednesday, naming Kirk Cousins QB1.

Head coach Klint Kubiak's decision puts Mendoza in the minority among quarterbacks taken No. 1 overall this century. Of the 20 selected, 13 started in Week 1 as rookies, including the past six (Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, Cam Ward).

Below, we examine six of those who, like Mendoza, had to wait to make their first NFL start

Michael Vick (2001)

First start: Week 9 | One of the most electrifying playmakers of his generation, Vick sat behind then-14-year veteran Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler to begin his career. The four-time Pro Bowler saw his first extended action in Week 4 and made his first start five weeks later against the Dallas Cowboys when Chandler sat with a rib injury.

The Falcons won in what turned out to be a dreadful quarterback battle between Vick and Ryan Leaf (!), with Vick finishing 4-of-12 for 32 yards and one touchdown. His four rushing yards were offset by the five yards he lost on two sacks. Chandler returned in Week 10, and Vick didn't make another start until the regular-season finale.

What happened next: The wait paid off as Vick was named to the Pro Bowl in 2002 and led the Falcons to the playoffs, where they upset the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field during the wild-card round.

Eli Manning (2004)

First start: Week 11 | After parting ways with Kerry Collins, their primary starting quarterback for five seasons (1999-2003), the New York Giants started 2004 with two-time MVP Kurt Warner at quarterback and only turned to Manning amid a 1-3 slump after beginning the season 4-1.

"He is the future of the New York Giants, and it starts now," head coach Tom Coughlin said at the time, explaining his decision by saying the offense needed a spark. Manning wasn't an immediate answer, however, going 17-of-37 for 162 yards, one touchdown and an interception in a his debut loss to the Falcons. Over his first four starts, Manning had an abysmal 38.6 percent completion percentage, and New York averaged 9.3 points per game.

What happened next: Manning soared in his first full season as a starter a year later, leading the Giants to an 11-5 record and NFC East title.

Alex Smith (2005)

First start: Week 5 | Smith didn't have to wait nearly as long to make his first career start, taking over for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Tim Rattay during the first week of October of his rookie season.

"I feel that Alex gives us the best chance to win, and I believe he's ready," head coach Mike Nolan told reporters. Yet as with Vick and Manning, that wasn't the case. Smith ended his debut 9-of-23 for 74 yards and four interceptions. 

After missing Weeks 8-12 with a knee injury, Smith returned in December, finishing his rookie season with one touchdown and 11 interceptions.

What happened next: Smith began to turn things around in San Francisco in 2006, but Jim Harbaugh's arrival as head coach in 2011 was the moment when Smith morphed into a legit QB1.

JaMarcus Russell (2007)

First start: Week 17 | The Raiders have been here before with arguably the biggest draft bust of the 2000s. Russell sat behind Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper for the majority of his rookie season, which also happened to be Lane Kiffin's first year as head coach. Russell didn't attempt a pass until Week 13 and made his first start four weeks later, when he was a respectable 23-of-31 for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

What happened next: Nothing good. Russell only made 24 more starts, including 15 in 2008, when the Raiders went 5-11 overall and finished with the league's worst passing offense.

Jared Goff (2016)

First start: Week 11 | Goff was a healthy inactive for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 of his rookie season to make room for starter Case Keenum and backup Sean Mannion. He didn't attempt a pass until his first start in mid-November, going 17-of-31 for 134 yards in a 14-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Rams proceeded to also lose their final six games, finishing 4-12.

What happened next: Goff took a page out of Vick and Manning's playbook by improving exponentially in his second season under first-year head coach Sean McVay. The Rams had the league's top-scoring offense and finished the regular season at 11-5, making the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Baker Mayfield (2018)

First start: Week 4 | Mayfield had the shortest wait, helping spark the Cleveland Browns' first win in over a year when coming off the bench against the Jets to earn the starting job full time. The Browns lost Mayfield's first start, a 45-42 overtime barnburner at the Raiders, with the former Heisman winner going 21-of-41 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

What happened next: Mayfield struggled with turnovers the following season, throwing a career-high 21 interceptions in 2019 as the Browns went 6-10. It wasn't until 2020, Mayfield's second season as the permanent starter, that Cleveland snapped a playoff drought dating back to 2003.